Gungahlin Uniting Church

108 The Valley Avenue, Gungahlin, ACT 2912

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Home Brewed Worship – Order of Service – August 23, 2020

August 22, 2020 by Darren Wright

Sing: We Light A Candle by Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan

Psalm 124

If you had not sided with us, LORD,
……..we all know where we’d have ended up.

If we had not had you on our side
……..when people turned against us,
…………….attacking with the fury of a wounded shark,
……..they would have made mince meat out of us.

Their frenzied rage would have dragged us under,
……..their lust for blood would have torn us apart.
The thrashing waters would have closed over us,
……..hiding the violence,
…………….concealing our fate.

All the credit and all the honours go to you, LORD;
……..it was you who saved our flesh
…………….from the teeth of our enemies. 

Thanks to you, we have shaken off their grip,
……..and soared to safety, as free as a bird.
Their savage attack was repelled,
……..and we have escaped unharmed.

It is you, LORD, the creator of heaven and earth,
……..who guarantees our safety.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Sing – You Are The Light of The World by Cathy Pino

https://vimeo.com/422037417

Story – Miriam Hides Moses

https://vimeo.com/450070152
Miriam Hides Moses from the Growing in God’s Love Storybible published by FlyAway Books

Sing – More Light by Christopher Grundy

Prepare to spend some time with the scriptures as you sing along or listen to this prayer. Be prepared to hear what needs to be heard today.

More light
More truth
Is breaking from your word
More light
More truth
Holy Spirit
Help us hear what needs to be heard
More light
More truth
Is breaking from your word
More light
More truth
Holy Spirit
Help us hear what needs to be heard
Help us hear what needs to be heard

Bible Readings

This week’s scripture readings are:

  • Exodus 1:8-2:10
  • Psalm 124
  • Matthew 16:13-20

We’ve focussed on the Exodus story for this week’s resources.

Listen: We Shall Overcome

Sing: Be Still My Soul

Reflection

https://vimeo.com/450052097
Today’s reflection explores this week’s reading from the book of Exodus

Prayers for Others

Dear Heavenly Father,
We give thanks and praise for your wonderful love and compassion.
Thank you for answered prayers.

Lord, across our beautiful world there is trouble,
many have become infected with the Coronavirus, and the death toll is vast.
Many have lost employment and businesses have closed.
Whole states have been locked down and borders closed to travellers.
People are weary of the restrictions
and look for different ways to supplement their income.
Mental health is on the rise and tempers are frayed.

Help us to contact those we know with a friendly call or visit,
a casserole or cake to make life brighter and ease some of the stress in their lives.

Give us hope Lord, that there will be an end to this pandemic
and that a satisfactory vaccine is developed, ready for use in the near future.

We pray for all who are feeling depressed, for those who are disheartened,
for the unemployed, the lonely, and the forgotten.
Give them hope for a brighter and meaningful future.

Loving God, we bring before you all who are in need of your healing touch today.
We pray for the terminally ill, those going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy,
those whose independence is slowly slipping away,
and those who have difficulty with memory.
Be with them Lord, and give them comfort, strength and compassion.

You call us to pray and work for peace.
We pray for those who lead the different nations,
that they might rule with justice and concern for all.
Where there is division between nations,
let cool heads prevail for continued world peace.

We pray for ourselves, that with your Holy Spirit working through us,
we may reflect your glory and love to others.

Surprise our limited understanding with new glimpses of your love and compassion.

May we grow in your grace, in Jesus name. Amen

Pauline Loughhead

Sing: Goodness is Stronger Than Evil by Desmond Tutu & John Bell

Sending

Loving God

Let us hear the voice of those crying for justice

and be filled with compassion.

Let us hear the voice of the children of our community

and be filled with compassion.

Let us hear your voice calling out to us

and may we answer your call.

Filed Under: August 23, 2020, Blog, Home Brewed Worship

Home Brewed Worship – For Families

August 21, 2020 by Darren Wright

This week’s reading introduces Moses, the beginning of Exodus includes his birth and the famous story of his mother hiding him in an ark in the reeds.

But what do you know about Moses? Here are some ideas to help you find more about him and his story.

*Be aware that if you’re sharing this story with young kids three are some parts of the story that may be difficult for them to hear. Stories of kings wanting children killed and mothers who abandon their child are complex stories, but they’re stories we’re familiar with in fairytales and other stories… so be prepared for hard chats.

Set your self up for worship

Invite your family to create a sacred space in your home this week, whatever that might look like for them.

Add a candle and light it, I like saying something like “There once lived a someone who said such amazing things and did so many wonderful things that people followed him. One day they asked him who he was and he answered “I am the Light of the world”

Invite your household to share something they’re grateful for this week and give thanks for it.

Bible Readings

This week’s scripture readings are:

  • Exodus 1:8-2:10
  • Psalm 124
  • Matthew 16:13-20

We’ve focussed on the Exodus story for this week’s resources.

All-Age Prayer

Use this prayer every morning as a way to start the day with your household.

God of all ages, all places,
all times.

We come to praise you,
we come, bare foot in the sand, as we feel the sand underfoot, we become more aware of you, your presence with us.

God of the Holy Places, may this place,
where we gather today, also be a holy place:

a placed blessed by your presence with us, in us, for us,
above and below us,
protecting and guiding us in all we do, this day and always.

Amen.

Spill The Beans – Issue 16

Meet Shiphrah and Puah

The story of Shiphrah and Puah is one of the little known stories that needs to be told, it’s the story that kicks off the book of Exodus and cements the theme of deliverance and freedom.

What do you think about Shiphrah and Puah? How awesome is their story?

Sing

Spend some time in song together, here are a couple great songs for you to try at home

When We Share God’s Dream by Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan Colligan is a simple and great song, you can find the lyrics here
We Are A Part of the Family is a great song to sing at home, you can access the lyrics here.
https://vimeo.com/422037417
This song by Cathy Pino has become a favourite in our household
I Will Sing Of Your Love, Love, Love is a beautiful and repetitive song written and sing by Christopher Grundy.

For Prayer

Pray for the world around you by talking with each other about the things that are on your heart, who do you want to send love to today? Where do you want to see God’s peace this week?

Perhaps you might like to draw your prayers together, and place them on your fridge this week. If you do maybe you can agree to say a short 1 line prayer every time you open the fridge this week.

If you need help try this: “God we pray your peace fill the world, your love fill our hearts”

Miriam Hides Moses

https://vimeo.com/450070152
Here is a poem from the Growing in God’s Love story bible titled Miriam Hides Moses, a reflection on the story from Exodus.

Holy Moly – Baby Moses

*temporary password: GUNGUCFF2020

https://vimeo.com/449694657

Reflection – Exodus 1:8 – 2:10

https://vimeo.com/450052097

Re:Form – The Story of Moses

*temporary password: GUNGUCFF2020

https://vimeo.com/449694892

Saddleback Kids -The Story of Moses (Playlist)

Saddleback’s videos are great introductions to characters, this series introduces us to the story of Moses.

The Prince of Egypt

Perhaps this week you might want to cook some popcorn and sit together to watch the Dreamworks film Prince of Egypt.

For Conversation:

I really like the questions posed by Godly play, they’re simple and invite the household into a conversation, read through

  • I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
  • I wonder what part of the story was the most important?
  • I wonder what part was about you or what part you were in?

The story of Irena Sendler

The By The Well Podcast names the story of Irena Sendler as a story that invites us to hear the story of the midwives in more current context.

Research the story of Irena Sendler online and discuss with others this week how you think it links with this week’s story from Exodus.

Can you think of other people’s stories that may also link with this week’s story?

Holocaust Matters – Who was Irena Sendler

Sending

When you finish your time together leave the space by sharing

1 thing that you really love about each other

1 thing that you are grateful for today

Look at each other and say to each of you “Go in peace to love as God loves you”

But wait, there’s more…

Worshipping With Children has some great liturgical resources for people worshipping with children this week, and they’re exploring the same readings. Head over there for more material if you’d like to spend more time with Moses as a family.

Filed Under: August 23, 2020, August 30, 2020, Blog, Home Brewed Family, Home Brewed Worship

Home Brewed Worship – August 16, 2020

August 15, 2020 by Darren Wright

Welcome to this week’s worship resources. This week we encourage you to dive into the scripture and hear again the story of Jesus walking on the water and reflect on how this story meets us this week.

For those of you who want to make a space to worship on Sunday we’ve put together an order of service that you can use to reflect in music, read the scripture and pray in worship,

For those of you who feel that you only have cracks and crevices in your week available to intentionally spend time with God we’ve created this material as a kind of playlist for you to use through your week to dive in and out of when you can make space in your work, home, car or whenever you find yourself open to spend time with God.

Perhaps you might choose one prayer to pray daily, or commit to listening to two songs each day, or reading one of the bible verses every two days?

Readings:

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Psalm 67
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

Prayers:

  • All Age Prayer
  • Prayer For Others
  • Prayer of Adoration & Confession

Story:

Here are three stories that reflect on the theme of Blessing this week. Perhaps they might be stories to reflect on together at the end of the day this week, or over the course of Sunday.

Story – August 16, 2020

Singing The Scriptures

This week’s singing the scripture playlist provides many ways to reflect on Psalm 67 and 133, both songs of blessing.

Reflection – On Blessings

https://vimeo.com/448216471

Faith At Home

Activities to help you reflect on Blessings at home this week, they would provide good conversation at the table or activities to do with others over the course of the weekend.

Faith At Home – August 16, 2020

Go Deeper:

This week, if you’d like to spend more time on Psalm 67 we’d like to point you to three commentaries on the Working Preacher website.

  • Commentary, Psalm 67, James K. Mead
  • Commentary, Psalm 67, Nancy Koester
  • Commentary, Psalm 67, Rolf Jacobson

If you’d like to reflect ton the other bible readings for this week here are a few other links:

  • The Thing About Dogs, a reflection on Matthew 15
  • By The Well, Podcast reflecting on this week’s readings

Filed Under: August 16, 2020, Blog, Home Brewed Worship

Order of Service – August 16, 2020

August 15, 2020 by Darren Wright

Welcome to this week’s worship resources. This week we encourage you to dive into the scripture and hear again the story of Jesus walking on the water and reflect on how this story meets us this week.

Perhaps you might choose one prayer to pray daily, or commit to listening to two songs each day, or reading one of the bible verses every two days?

Faith At Home.

This week we invite you to take the Psalm 67 and rewrite it in your own words. Perhaps you’d like to write your own psalm of blessing, giving thanks to God for all God’s created and given.

Perhaps you might like to go a little further and put it to music, an old hymn, or tune, or perhaps write one of your own.

Grateful

As you make space this weekend think back on your week, what are you grateful for? Spend some time giving thanks to God.

Call to Worship

We come with questions.
We struggle with patience.
We open our hearts to the Lord.

We come in search of answers.
We journey with uncertainty.
We put out trust in the Lord.

Let us worship God together.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 23

Song: The Earth Has Yielded It’s Harvest

PSALM 67 (Another Version for Today)

Be gracious to us, O God, and bless us;
make your face shine upon us.
Knowing your ways in the earth,
your saving works among all the nations,
let the peoples praise you, O God,
let all the peoples praise you.
Let them shout with joy,
for you judge the nations with justice,
and guide the peoples of the earth.
Let the people praise you, O God,
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has presented its produce;
you continue to bless us, O God, our God.
May God bless us –
and be held in holy awe to all the ends of the earth.

Source: The Billabong

Song: Psalm 67

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

God who holds us in the depths
and on the mountaintop
we seek your face in worship.

We seek your face to shine
on our questions,
on our certainties,
on our challenges,
on our consolation.

Here in this place,
we know the freedom to sing your praise
while we also ask:
How long, O Lord?

How long before we see your justice?
How long before we see your creation restored?
How long O Lord?

Even as we ask these questions,
we acknowledge our complicity
in all that ails our world.
We acknowledge that often
we do not play our part in sharing love,
in holding out peace.

The things we do too often differentiate
and discriminate and make your kingdom less.

So, Lord, hear our confession,
hear our cry for forgiveness and our pledge,
with your help, to do better.

And then help us who know
we can count on your love
and your forgiveness
to go and make a difference.
To use what you reveal to us here
to restore creation
according to your will.

Amen.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 23

Story: Something Beautiful

https://youtu.be/Ma_DzzeNuVE
Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth and Chris K Soentpiet.
A story of blessings…

Song: Sharing The Road

Readings:

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Psalm 67
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

Song: I’ll Praise My Maker

Reflection – On Blessings

https://vimeo.com/448216471

Song: We Are Blessed

Prayers for Others

When upon the storms of life you’re tossed about,
When you are discouraged, and begin to doubt,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done

Heavenly Father, we are tossed about upon the storms of life.
We share anxiety and uncertainty about COVID-19
and its impact on health, comfort and wellbeing.
We also may have individual storms of life.
Whilst easier said than done,
we pray for Your encouragement
to count our blessings and be mindful of how much You have done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Lord God, we think of those with significant health concerns for themselves or loved ones.
Continue to share these loads of care and place Your encouraging and healing hands over these situations.
Grant us peace to be mindful of the access to health services, the skill and resilience of health professionals
and the diligence and focus of scientific researchers, especially in developing a COVID-19 vaccine.

When you look at others with their lands and gold.
Thing that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Almighty Lord, many also face challenges to economic wellbeing due to unemployment or other adjustments that create difficulties to making ends meet.
Remind us of our ultimate citizenship in Heaven and of how fortunate we are to have care from loved ones, access to support services and a relatively peaceful society.

So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Good Shepherd, You are over all, nothing can separate us from Your love and You hear our prayers.
Minister to us through Your Holy Spirit, Your angels and Your Church.
Thank you for the encouragement and friendship shared throughout the Gungahlin Uniting Church community.

Count your blessings, name them one by one:
Count your blessings see what God has done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God has done. AMEN

Ian Bartholomew, August 2020

Blessing Prayer

Using the letters in the word “Blessing” write your own prayer of thanks to God for the blessings you’re thankful for and again write a prayer for help in serving your neighbours this week.

B

L

E

S

S

I

N

G

B

L

E

S

S

I

N

G

Song: For Everyone Born

Sending & Blessing

Send us out, O God!
To speak your words
to a waiting world
and share those words with all who hear.

Filed Under: August 16, 2020, Blog

Home Brewed Worship, August 09, 2020

August 8, 2020 by Darren Wright

Welcome to this week’s worship resources. This week we encourage you to dive into the scripture and hear again the story of Jesus walking on the water and reflect on how this story meets us this week.

For those of you who want to make a space to worship on Sunday we’ve put together an order of service that you can use to reflect in music, read the scripture and pray in worship,

For those of you who feel that you only have cracks and crevices in your week available to reflect on God’s word, to pray and meditate or to hear the stories of faith then we’ve created this material as a playlist for you to use through your week to dive in and out of when you can make space in your work, home, car or whenever you find yourself open to spend time with God.

Perhaps you might choose one prayer to pray daily, or commit to listening to two songs each day, or reading one of the bible verses every two days?

Order of Service

Worship material for August 09, 2020

Readings

  • Genesis 37:1-4,12-28
  • Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b
  • Matthew 14:22-33

Prayers

  • Call to Worship – An invitation to pray and meditate for the day
  • Prayer of Adoration and Confession – An invitation to pray at the beginning of every day
  • A Prayer For Others – A prayer for our world, our community
  • All Age Prayer – An invitation to pray at the table every day
  • A Blessing – an invitation to pray at the end of each day

Song

This week’s singing the scripture playlist is quite long, perhaps you might find some time each day to listen to a couple songs and reflect on your day and your journey with God through the week.

Worshipping with Family

This week’s reading tells the story of Jesus walking on the water and the disciples on a boat. This week how about creating a boat in your house? Use cushions, pillows, sheets, and if you’d like paint, pencils, paper, cardboard to build a boat together.

Then, get in the boat and imagine yourself sailing in the storm and seeing Jesus on the water. Perhaps the Holy Moly video below can help you tell the story.

For conversation:

  • When you hear this story what questions do you have?
  • What do you think the disciples were thinking?
  • Do you think you would have jumped out of the boat? Why? Why Not? Why do you think Peter did?
  • What are you afraid of? (spend some time on this, it can be a very helpful conversation with your family)
  • How can we face our fears together?
  • Can we pray to God to help us with what frightens us? – Pray together

Send us photos of your boat when you’ve finished.

Story

These videos are to help you hear the story of Joseph and of Jesus Walking on Water in different ways. This week’s material require you to use a password to access the videos, we’ve included the password in the community email.

The Story of Jesus Walking on Water – Holy Moly

https://vimeo.com/445561120

The Story of Joseph Part 01 – Holy Moly

https://vimeo.com/445557183

The Story of Joseph – Re:Form

https://vimeo.com/445557129

Reflection on the Gospel Reading

https://vimeo.com/445249388

Go Deeper

If you would like to go deeper into the readings for this week here are some suggestions.

  • Sermon: Rod Barnes on Walking on Water
  • Podcast: By The Well – Episode 139
  • Podcast and commentary – Working Preacher
  • Podcast – Peter Walked on Water Too! – Richard Rohr
  • Sermon – Nadia Bolz Weber, A Sermon Sarcastic & Serious

The following two videos reflect on fear and faith, you’ll need to use the same password shared in the community email.

https://vimeo.com/445594394
Featuring Brene Brown
Walking through fear in/with grace…
Brené Brown on grace and fear.
From The Work Of The People
https://vimeo.com/445594331
Ron Rolheiser on good, holy fear versus bad, frightening fear.
From The Work Of The People

Filed Under: August 09, 2020, Blog, Home Brewed Worship

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About GUC

We are a community on a journey, we’ve grown from a small faith community planted in Ngunnawal in the early years of Gungahlin’s development to a thriving inclusive, intergenerational & multicultural community. As Gungahlin has grown we have seen a lot of change.

We are an open and inclusive community, everyone is welcome to use their gifts in worship, prayer, leadership, hospitality and teaching.

Find out more…

Worship With Us

Every Sunday, 9:30am
Gungahlin Uniting Church and Community Centre
108 The Valley Avenue
Gungahlin, ACT, 2913

Worship is for all ages, (0 to 93!) and seeks to be meaningful in different ways for us all.

In Jesus Christ we see how he drew near to each and all and so we hope our worship expresses this nearness too.

Find out more…

Finding us

We worship at the Gungahlin Uniting Church & Community Centre.
Find us on Google Maps here

Car
Free parking is available in our on-site car park.

Light Rail
We are less than a 5 minute walk from the Gungahlin Place Light Rail Station.

Bus
The ACT has a number of bus options for people travelling around, or to Gungahlin. Timetables available here.

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